Thoughts Along Life's Highwayhttps://thoughtsalonglifeshighway.comA southern gal, raising two girls, cooking her heart out and scrapbooking like there's no tomorrow.enhttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/http://creativecommons.org/images/public/somerights20.gifSome Rights ReservedWed, 20 Mar 2019 12:30:35 PDThttp://wordpress.com/
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1 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/ThoughtsAlongLifesHighwayhttps://feedburner.google.comAnd yet more scrapbooking…http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ThoughtsAlongLifesHighway/~3/4VDIsnWpQqY/Project Life PhotosProject Life/Project 365ScrapbookingBecky Higginsproject 52Project LifeLois HoustonMon, 11 Jan 2016 05:58:07 PSThttp://loishouston.wordpress.com/?p=7095A few weeks ago, I read this blog post by Becky Higgins, in which she outlines how she documented 2015 and is planning to document 2016. As I read it, I thought, “I could DO this. It sounds manageable.”

You see, I’ve been feeling the urge to scrapbook again – to capture my family’s memories as I’m counting the days (and minutes) as they tick by and I know that my girls will soon be off on their own pursuits and not as interested in spending time with their mom and dad. I want to capture the days we’ve got together – what life is like, not just the special events – and record them for posterity.

But I have been overwhelmed at the thought of choosing pictures, printing them out, laying out paper and embellishments. And doing the same thing digitally seemed overwhelming, too.

I think it is because it’s been SO LONG since I’ve done any scrapbooking and the thought of the backlog of pictures seems overwhelming.

But, to overcome that I’ve decided to take Becky’s approach. I’m starting with CURRENT pictures and focusing on those only. Literally the last week’s worth of pictures. Each night I’ll glance at my phone and pick a picture or two from the day if I have any. Then, on Sunday night, I’ll add those all to a page – one page, that’s do-able, right? – and add some quick journaling about the week and the weekly card from the Project Life – Project 52 card set. I’m doing it all on the Project Life app on my phone.

What could be easier?

Honestly, I’m not sure anything could. I did my first week’s page in less than 10 minutes. And then, because I felt like I was on a roll, I did a few from December, just for fun. (somebody stop me, I’m going crazy here)

So we will see how this goes. But quite honestly, this seems so EASY. I’m not sure how I could NOT do it. And even if I missed a week it wouldn’t be that bad to catch up.

]]>A few weeks ago, I read this blog post by Becky Higgins, in which she outlines how she documented 2015 and is planning to document 2016.&#160; As I read it, I thought, “I could DO this. It sounds manageable.”&#160; You see, I’ve been feeling the urge to scrapbook again – to capture my family’s memories &#8230; <a href="https://thoughtsalonglifeshighway.com/2016/01/11/and-yet-more-scrapbooking/" class="more-link">Continue reading <span class="screen-reader-text">And yet more scrapbooking&#8230;</span></a>https://thoughtsalonglifeshighway.com/2016/01/11/and-yet-more-scrapbooking/feed/2loishoustonIFPC1565[1]MJDP1571[1]TGUP0653[1]https://thoughtsalonglifeshighway.com/2016/01/11/and-yet-more-scrapbooking/Menu Plan Mondayhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ThoughtsAlongLifesHighway/~3/NzszmSSRWH8/Menu Plan MondayMenu Planmenu plan mondaymenu planningLois HoustonMon, 14 Dec 2015 04:32:09 PSThttp://loishouston.wordpress.com/?p=7083Gracious. It’s been a long time since I’ve done a Menu Plan Monday post.

It’s not that I haven’t been menu planning – I just haven’t been posting.

But I thought I’d share with you what I have planned on this last week of school before the holiday break. It’s going to be crazy here – lots going on, Big Girl has midterms, etc. so I wanted to be prepared with good meals and a plan for when to prepare them.

Here’s what I have so far – I generally try to plan 5 meals a week. I know we will eat out at least once during the week for takeout (it seems that way no matter how hard I try not to) and we usually go out for dinner once on the weekend (at least )

I do not plan which meal to have on which day, although I have a general idea based on what is happening this week – like on Wednesday I have my Ladies’ Group at the house so I will do the Chicken Spaghetti that I can make ahead and pop in the oven while I’m in carpool. It will be ready around 5:30 and we can eat and get the kitchen cleaned up long before everyone starts to arrive at 7:00.

Sticking with some old stand by recipes this week – and one SuperMan Special.

]]>Gracious. It’s been a long time since I’ve done a Menu Plan Monday post. It’s not that I haven’t been menu planning – I just haven’t been posting. But I thought I’d share with you what I have planned on this last week of school before the holiday break. It’s going to be crazy here &#8230; <a href="https://thoughtsalonglifeshighway.com/2015/12/14/menu-plan-monday-20/" class="more-link">Continue reading <span class="screen-reader-text">Menu Plan Monday</span></a>https://thoughtsalonglifeshighway.com/2015/12/14/menu-plan-monday-20/feed/1loishoustonSmile with tongue outIMG_3611[1]Disappointed smilehttps://thoughtsalonglifeshighway.com/2015/12/14/menu-plan-monday-20/The world must be endinghttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ThoughtsAlongLifesHighway/~3/tbq-XblMKWg/Creative MemoriesScrapbookingDigital ScrapbookingDisneydisney scrapbookScrapbookwalt disney worldLois HoustonFri, 27 Nov 2015 07:59:14 PSThttp://loishouston.wordpress.com/?p=7077because I actually SCRAPBOOKED yesterday. The first time in, oh, I don’t know how many years. And I enjoyed it. Immensely.

I have fallen off of the memory keeping bandwagon for some time – I got busy with work and life and scrapbooking took time I didn’t have. And then I got so far behind that the thought of starting and trying to catch up just was overwhelming. My poor scrapbook table sat dusty and unused, becoming a place for the family to pile things that they didn’t want to deal with at the moment. My scrapbooking software has been unopened, and while I have been saving photos, no archiving has been done. No organization or anything.

However, ever since we got back from our Disney trip I have been wanting to do something with those photos. I didn’t want them to sit unenjoyed on my hard drive. We had a great trip and I wanted to preserve those memories. To be able to look back on the stories and relive the fun.

So, I have been toying with the idea of a pocket-style scrapbook. I even purchased a 6×8 album and inserts and Disney-themed décor. And then I looked at how many photos I had. Over 1,000! Between the photos we took and the ones that we had taken by cast members, we have a LOT of photos. I wasn’t sure my little 6×8 album could hold all of that. And I wasn’t going to print that many pictures only to discard about half or more that wouldn’t make the cut into the album. That’s wasteful and expensive.

So then I thought about doing a simple Shutterfly album. I uploaded the photos and then started looking at the options online. I realized that I would not be happy or content with the products they had because I was used to being able to customize my pages with my digital scrapbooking.

So yesterday, while we watched movies as a family, I set up my laptop in the living room, downloaded some Disney themed digital kits and got to work. I managed to make it as far as our first “official” day in the park. I’m planning to do more this weekend, so hopefully I will make good progress. I have a lot of pictures to go through, but I’m having FUN and enjoying it again. And that’s a pretty big thing.

]]>because I actually SCRAPBOOKED yesterday. The first time in, oh, I don’t know how many years. And I enjoyed it. Immensely. I have fallen off of the memory keeping bandwagon for some time – I got busy with work and life and scrapbooking took time I didn’t have. And then I got so far behind &#8230; <a href="https://thoughtsalonglifeshighway.com/2015/11/27/the-world-must-be-ending/" class="more-link">Continue reading <span class="screen-reader-text">The world must be ending</span></a>https://thoughtsalonglifeshighway.com/2015/11/27/the-world-must-be-ending/feed/2loishoustonDisney 2015 - Page 001Disney 2015 - Page 002Disney 2015 - Page 003Disney 2015 - Page 004Disney 2015 - Page 005Disney 2015 - Page 006https://thoughtsalonglifeshighway.com/2015/11/27/the-world-must-be-ending/Happy Thanksgiving!http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ThoughtsAlongLifesHighway/~3/m8tVsdn4cCM/UncategorizedLois HoustonThu, 26 Nov 2015 12:25:49 PSThttp://thoughtsalonglifeshighway.com/2015/11/26/happy-thanksgiving-2/

Happy Thanksgiving!

Hope your day is filled with good times and good food.

]]>&#160;&#160; Happy Thanksgiving! Hope your day is filled with good times and good food.&#160;https://thoughtsalonglifeshighway.com/2015/11/26/happy-thanksgiving-2/feed/0loishoustonhttps://thoughtsalonglifeshighway.com/2015/11/26/happy-thanksgiving-2/Time for a little “me time”http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ThoughtsAlongLifesHighway/~3/_dldPjlYNB0/UncategorizedLois HoustonWed, 25 Nov 2015 13:31:28 PSThttp://thoughtsalonglifeshighway.com/2015/11/25/7059/

So I haven’t been up to doing much the past week. On my second round of meds and still feeling rotten.

But I have done a wee bit of knitting

And I’ve got a fantabulous bread recipe I’m testing (and the family is devouring) I hope to share that with you soon.

Other than that, I’m just sniffling and coughing and hoping to get well.

]]>We get sick &#8230; Apparently. &#160; So I haven&#8217;t been up to doing much the past week. On my second round of meds and still feeling rotten.&#160; But I have done a wee bit of knitting&#160; &#160;&#160; And I&#8217;ve got a fantabulous bread recipe I&#8217;m testing (and the family is devouring) I hope to share &#8230; <a href="https://thoughtsalonglifeshighway.com/2015/10/13/and-after-vacation/" class="more-link">Continue reading <span class="screen-reader-text">And after vacation&#8230;</span></a>https://thoughtsalonglifeshighway.com/2015/10/13/and-after-vacation/feed/0loishoustonhttps://thoughtsalonglifeshighway.com/2015/10/13/and-after-vacation/WIPhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ThoughtsAlongLifesHighway/~3/LBw66T2DcQQ/UncategorizedLois HoustonFri, 25 Sep 2015 13:11:39 PDThttp://thoughtsalonglifeshighway.com/2015/09/25/wip/This yarn used to be the beginnings of a shawl. But it didn’t want to be a shawl. It wanted to be a lap blanket. Reinvention in progress. Yarn is much happier now.

]]>This yarn used to be the beginnings of a shawl. But it didn&#8217;t want to be a shawl. It wanted to be a lap blanket. Reinvention in progress. Yarn is much happier now.&#160;&#160;https://thoughtsalonglifeshighway.com/2015/09/25/wip/feed/0loishoustonhttps://thoughtsalonglifeshighway.com/2015/09/25/wip/Ranch Chickenhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ThoughtsAlongLifesHighway/~3/Hro_9YAUhQU/Cooking & BakingRecipesbakingChickenchicken breastsCookingRanch ChickenLois HoustonFri, 11 Sep 2015 06:54:47 PDThttp://loishouston.wordpress.com/?p=7052I tried a new recipe last night.

It was a blend of two different recipes I’d found on the internet that I wanted to try – both called Ranch Chicken but very different in their approach/ingredients. So, being the daredevil that I am, I decided to make my own version by blending the basic pieces of the two.

It was a huge success. So much so that I couldn’t get a picture because my family gobbled it up!

This will most definitely go into my regular rotation for the future. I served it with some chicken-flavored rice (a-la Rice-a-Roni type rice) and steamed veggies. There was barely enough left for SuperMan to make a lunch plate for himself. And none for me to make a lunch plate. But I like it that way. That means they liked dinner!

A couple notes –

– I used a combination of panko and corn flakes. Mostly because I was almost out of panko but also because I was blending two recipes and one called for panko and the other for corn flakes. We really liked the crunch of the corn flakes and I’ll probably do just those next time.

– my Houston House Seasoning is a staple in my kitchen. I use it on almost every savory dish I make. It’s so easy to keep blended in an old spice container and I just sprinkle it on my dishes as I season. I like the combination of flavors that it adds to every dish.

– another staple in my cooking is Mrs. Dash Garlic Blend. I use it on almost everything. Salt free and full of flavor. I buy the huge bottles at the warehouse store – that’s how much I use it!!

– I cooked these on top of a wire rack on a cookie sheet/jelly roll pan. That allowed the air to get all around the chicken and kept it from getting soggy on the bottom. If you don’t have a wire rack, you could just put the chicken on your cookie sheet. I think it’ll be just fine.

In a large (gallon) zip lock bag, mix the mayonnaise, ranch seasoning, house seasoning, and Mrs. Dash

In another large zip lock bag, mix the bread crumbs/corn flakes, parmesan and some additional house seasoning, ranch seasoning and garlic blend

Place chicken breast in mayonnaise bag and shake to ensure it’s well coated in the mayo mixture.

Place coated chicken in the breading bag and shake to ensure it’s well coated.

Place the chicken on a wire rack (sprayed with cooking spray) that’s been placed on a jelly roll pan/cookie sheet.

Repeat with all the chicken breasts.

Bake 45 minutes at 375 degrees.

Give it a try and let me know what you think.

]]>I tried a new recipe last night. It was a blend of two different recipes I’d found on the internet that I wanted to try – both called Ranch Chicken but very different in their approach/ingredients. So, being the daredevil that I am, I decided to make my own version by blending the basic pieces &#8230; <a href="https://thoughtsalonglifeshighway.com/2015/09/11/ranch-chicken/" class="more-link">Continue reading <span class="screen-reader-text">Ranch Chicken</span></a>https://thoughtsalonglifeshighway.com/2015/09/11/ranch-chicken/feed/0loishoustonhttps://thoughtsalonglifeshighway.com/2015/09/11/ranch-chicken/Mini cooking dayhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ThoughtsAlongLifesHighway/~3/bqkjKrSavUo/Cooking & BakingCookingfreezer cookingfreezer mealsLois HoustonThu, 10 Sep 2015 07:08:14 PDThttp://loishouston.wordpress.com/?p=7050I try to do a cooking day every few months to prepare some casseroles and meals in advance so that when life gets crazy I have a secret weapon in the freezer to save my sanity and feed my family. I had planned to do a big cooking day with some friends this August, but life got nuts for all of us and it just never materialized.

Earlier this summer our big freezer decided it was time to go to the big appliance graveyard in the sky. We lost a LOT of food – and a lot of the stashed meals I had. (sad face) We were so fortunate to have a small refrigerator in reserve so we still have an extra freezer for storage and I’ve been trying to decide if I could stuff it with freezer meals or not.

I have been so busy with work and appointments for my Girl that I was really feeling the pinch of not having my secret weapon to rely on. So, this past weekend I decided to do a mini cooking day. I used the Labor Day holiday to my advantage. SuperMan went with me to the store and helped me shop (he’s great at finding deals) and I came home and spent a few hours doing some cooking.

Since my new freezer is small, I couldn’t do a lot of meals. I will probably have to do smaller-scale cooking days from now on. But I did manage to make a couple meatloaves and some chicken spaghetti ahead for busy nights. And we’ve already used one of each this week as we’ve been busy with doctor visits and I haven’t been home to cook early.

It’s a little extra work on the front end to do a cooking day, but it is SO WORTH IT in the long run. When you are stressed out, tired and frazzled it’s hard to make healthy decisions for feeding your family. I tend to want to fall back on take out meals. That’s not only less healthy (generally speaking) it’s also a lot more expensive.

Rather than spending $30-40 on a take out dinner, I just doubled my portions for my meatloaf and chicken spaghetti recipes. And we had dinner for probably $10-15 instead of more than double that. And it was GOOD. And I knew all of the ingredients were wholesome.

I can’ t recommend that you try this yourself strongly enough. I think you’ll be glad you did.

Here is how you can get started:

Pick a couple recipes (2-3 to start with) that you know are family favorites and would freeze well.

Shop your pantry and freezer first. Use up what you have before you go buy more. (save money!)

Go shopping for your remaining ingredients. Don’t forget disposable pans and zip lock bags. You won’t want to tie up your casserole dishes in the freezer. (This also makes it easier to gift a freezer meal to a friend if she needs it one night!)

Pick a day when you have 2-3 hours (at least) to work in the kitchen.I suggest doing your prep (vegetable cutting, etc.) the day before if you can. That’s more efficient for cooking day AND you divide the labor over multiple days so it’s not so tiring.

For your cooking day, fill your sink with hot soapy water so you can clean as you go (in case you need to reuse your utensils or bowls)

Clean everything off the counters that are not related to your cooking project – give yourself as much working space as possible.

If the family isn’t helping, banish them from the kitchen (if you can) for less distractions.

Lay out your recipes and place your ingredients next to your recipes. Lay out the utensils and bowls as well.

I usually start with the recipe that requires pre-cooking first – like when I need to cook chicken for a casserole, or brown ground beef. Get those started first.

Assemble your dishes.

This is going to sound crazy, but DON’T SIT DOWN. Keep going until you finish. If you stop, it’s hard to get going again. Trust me on this one.

When you’re preparing the finished dishes for the freezer, here are a few tips for you:

Use multiple layers to ensure you get a good seal. I usually use plastic wrap AND foil. I have had too many experiences where I’ve only used foil and someone slid something on top of my dish in the freezer and tore the foil. Doubling up your layers lessens the risk of a ruined meal and also helps to preserve the moisture in the dish and protect from “freezer flavors” getting in your food. *Don’t forget to write a note on top of the dish to remove the plastic wrap!* Melted plastic wrap would be a nightmare in your oven.

Use labels to identify what the dish is, whether it needs to be defrosted first, and how it should be cooked. Be sure to take into account the fact that you may be pulling it from the freezer and cooking it semi-frozen. I’ve found that adding a few minutes to the cooking time normally called for in a recipe helps to ensure you don’t pull out a half-finished dish from the oven. This also helps if your hubby or kids are doing the cooking – make it as easy as possible for them to be successful!You can also write directly on the foil with a sharpie if you don’t have labels.

Stack your items in the freezer – and consider adding a label to the outside edge so you can easily see what’s there without having to pull out the whole stack.

If you’re a freezer cooking gal, I’d love to hear any tips or suggestions you have!

And if you’re not – I hope you’ll give it a try!

]]>I try to do a cooking day every few months to prepare some casseroles and meals in advance so that when life gets crazy I have a secret weapon in the freezer to save my sanity and feed my family. I had planned to do a big cooking day with some friends this August, but &#8230; <a href="https://thoughtsalonglifeshighway.com/2015/09/10/mini-cooking-day/" class="more-link">Continue reading <span class="screen-reader-text">Mini cooking day</span></a>https://thoughtsalonglifeshighway.com/2015/09/10/mini-cooking-day/feed/0loishoustonhttps://thoughtsalonglifeshighway.com/2015/09/10/mini-cooking-day/